Jace at 21 Months.......................

Jace at 21 months is................

-a very happy boy. He is usually smiling or laughing at least 90% of the time.

-SO into Elmo and Thomas. He is working on all of the Thomas and Friends names--usually saying just 1 syllable of each.

-very happy when pizza is for dinner. This is definitely his favorite food right now....along with any sort of dessert.

-very loving.

-saying new things everyday.

-getting better about tantrums. He still has them but they have recently only been lasting a minute or less.

-an animal lover.

-into playing with sidewalk chalk and doing whatever Daddy does outside.

-so silly. He said 'bus' as 'bu' for several months. Mommy and Jace worked so hard on getting his /s/ on there only to have it turn into 'us'!

-between 25 and 26 pounds and around 33 inches tall.

-wearing mostly 2T clothes.

-really into cars and trucks.

-loving daycare and learning new things everyday. His newest is saying 'mine'. He picked it up at daycare but doesn't really get it. He just sits around playing with his toys saying 'mine, mine'. Must be an only child not to understand that one!

-one of the coolest people Mommy has ever met!




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Purple 4 Life!

It's homecoming weekend at UNI and Jace is fully enjoying it! Friday was purple pride day (wear purple to work and school) so Jace and Mommy joined in the fun and broke our their purple duds. Saturday was the 'virtual parade'. Typically there is a regular parade but due to construction this year, the floats were parked and everybody walked through them. Jace loved hearing the UNI band and he got to stand right next to the basketball team--both men's and women's. After the parade, Jace and Mommy had to run over to Toys R Us because it was a playdate with Thomas day. Jace had a blast! He played with the Thomas sets for almost an hour (and still had to be pulled unwillingly away by Mommy). He also got a new Thomas book and some free trading cards and coloring sheets. Whew! Not surprisingly he fell asleep in the car!
And in daycare news............Jace is such a big boy! He is finishing up his very first fundraiser (they are raising money for a new playground), had the firetruck come and visit his class on Friday, and has school pictures next week!! Is he really not even 2 yet???
On to the pictures.....................

Jace is really into making people laugh. This is his latest and greatest attempt.

Jace and Mommy showing off their purple. And look at the pretty flowers Jace brought Mommy Friday afternoon. What a sweet boy!

Ready for some parade action!

Pump up the purple!

Helping mow the grass

Jace and Mommy being goofy playing in the leaves

Daddy and Jace..........even bigger goofballs!

Fall Fun!

Jace was able to enjoy some fall fun this weekend! First, he met Nana and Papa Cook to eat at Bluff Lake for Nana's birthday. He didn't eat much but ran around like a wild man. He was intrigued by his shadow until it got dark and then just ran aimlessly for over a half hour. He fell asleep before the car ever left the parking lot--and snored the whole way home! Even though Jace met for NANA'S birthday, somehow it turned into an occasion to spoil Jace.....again. Nana and Papa brought him a Veggie Tales movie and new Thomas Movie (that quite frankly, Mommy is a little scared to play for him.....what if he likes it as much as Thomas and the Magic Railroad!!). Papa also gave Jace an Iowa book--so cool!
Sunday, Jace met up with his friends Davon and Haley (and their Mommy and Daddy) and went to the pumpkin patch. He went through the corn maze, rode on a hay ride, peeked in the haunted house, saw some animals, and picked out a ginormous pumpkin! Mommy was hoping, hoping, hoping that there would be pumpkin pie and THERE WAS! She was nice and shared with Jace.......he picked the whipped cream off of each bite, ate it,and set the actual pie on the table! It's in the genes!

Jace and Nana

Giving Nana some loving

Already training for the '09 Bix

MUSCLES!

Wheeee!

What a sweetie....giving Mommy a bite of pie...without whipped cream...Jace got all of that!

Going into the corn maze with Haley

Jace's favorite part of the pumpkin patch--jumping in the spider man jumper with Haley!


Taking a hike with Daddy

Just because......

Since Jace is such a studly, photogenic little man, Mommy thought she would share some recent photo ops.

Lovin' the fall weather

And the leaves

Joe Cool

Cute....but up to something

Checking out the yummies

Always waiting on Mommy in the morning

Gotta love Daddy's job (and what comes home with him)

Lots 'o Celebrating!

*****EDITED WITH KONA'S PICTURE***********

There has been a lot to celebrate recently in Jace's world.
First, Cousin Kona graduated from Doggy School a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately Aunt Erin and Tom were in Florida for the actual graduation ceremony but they do have a very nice picture of Kona with his diploma--which will be shared when Aunt Erin REMEMBERS to send it to Mommy.

Also, there have been several birthdays recently. Grandpa Steve celebrated his birthday last weekend. Nana Cook is having her special day today! Of course we won't get in to numbers associated with these birthdays. :) Happy Birthday!
And last but not least, Jace's buddy Preston has a new baby brother--Ashten Jayce. He was a bign' (at over 9 lbs.) but that was somewhat expected. Congratulations to Preston and his Mommy and Daddy!! We can't wait to meet the new little addition!


(in case you are wondering, this is Jace looking excited.....Mommy told him to look excited and clap)

J's Weekend Fun!

Jace's weekend consisted of a visit from Aunt Erin and from Grandma F. Jace was glad to see Aunt Erin on Friday night and even rewarded her with saying her name TWICE! Grandma came on Sunday bearing gifts as usual. Jace received a brand new RECORDER! Yep, the musical kind you play in elementary school. Of course this is a gift only a grandparent would bring. Jace caught on pretty quickly and plays up a storm now. Ozzy's ears don't seem to be too bothered by Jace's play. Mommy's on the other hand, may annoy him. The thing came with a book of songs so Mommy has already mastered The Itsy Bitsy Spider! Anyway, back to Grandma's visit.... She also brought Jace cookies, which has kind of turned into 'their thing'. Actually Jace turned it into 'their thing' after Grandma forgot to have cookies for him once. She knows better than to come without them again! Grandpa F. sent some apples for Jace so he and Mommy made applesauce that was oh so yummy. Ok, Mommy made the applesauce and Jace reaped the benefits. Somehow Jace also reaped the benefits of Mommy's piece of cherry pie. The sacrifices we make for our children!
And finally, some pictures from Jace's weekend........

Playing basketball with one of the neighbor boys. Jace LOVES him!

Blowing bubbles with Grandma

Practicing his new recorder.....it looks a little like a cup but it really does make music (or something similar sounding).

Snuggled in watching the boob tube.

Who Can Resist....

A face like this!!!

Ahh yes, the blanket. So Jace has moved on from Elmo being his one and only security item to having several. Mommy doesn't mind this but it does get a little tricky in the morning trying to get out the door. Jace can't take things like this to daycare so it takes SKILLZ on Mommy's part to retrieve them, get them out of view, and get Jace out the door before he remembers!

Jace attended Mikey D.'s 1st birthday party on Sunday and had a great time! Mikey D. is such a handsome little guy and talented too! He is a master walker already!
Jace really does like Mikey---not sure what the evil stare is about here.

Hmmm. Again eyeing Mikey. Maybe it's the sippy he's after!


Not a lot else to update on. Apparently Jace and another little guy at daycare had an almost 10 minute conversation today. None of the teachers could get any of it but Jace and his friend had no troubles! Jace is learning so much at daycare and it is so funny to see him whip something out at home. Tonight he started doing some clapping thing he had to have learned in music. He would slap his knees a couple of times, wiggle his booty, and shake his arms. He actually looked like Mommy in the old days! Jace also is REALLY into his Thomas movie he got from Grandma F. This coming from the kid that wouldn't look at the tv for more than 2 seconds to save his life a month ago! The movie is over 80 minutes long and Jace watched it almost 5 times last weekend and has watched it every day this week. It sounds bad (like we just plop our kid down for hours) but seriously there is no talking him out of it! Mommy has gotten some nice snuggle time in though!